"Our aircraft was never in Iranian airspace. It was always flying in international air space. The recognized limit is 12 nautical miles off the coast and we never entered the 12 nautical mile limit," Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in responding to questions from reporters after CNN reported the incident.

Little said the United States believed this was the first time an unmanned aircraft was shot at by the Iranians in international waters over the Gulf. In December of 2011, a U.S. surveillance drone crashed in eastern Iran. Iranians claimed to have shot it down, and created a toy model of the drone to celebrate its capture.

Little stopped short of calling the incident an act of war although the Pentagon was concerned.

Two U.S. officials explained the jets were part of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps force, which has been more confrontational than regular Iranian military forces.

At least two bursts of gunfire came from the Su-25s' cannons. The drone started to move away but the Iranian aircraft chased it, doing aerial loops around it before breaking away and returning to Iran.

The Obama administration did not disclose the incident before the presidential election, but three senior officials confirmed the details to CNN on Thursday. They declined to be identified because of sensitive intelligence matters surrounding the matter.

The drone's still and video cameras captured the incident showing two Su-25s approaching the Predator and firing onboard guns.

The Iranian pilots continued to fire shots that went beneath the Predator but were never successful in hitting it, according to the officials.

U.S. military intelligence analysts are still not sure if the Iranian pilots simply were unable to hit the drone due to lack of combat skill, or whether they deliberately were missing and had no intention of bringing it down.

But as one of the officials said, "it doesn't matter, they fired on us."

Little said the United States has to assume Iran was trying to bring down the Predator.

The United States protested the incident but had not heard back from Iran.

"But CNN does not question the political motivations of the Obama admin's constant lies and corruption.
CNN...complicit in the Obama propaganda machine."

It's too bad that so many people in the country are so brain dead. I mean, you are reading about this on CNN. And, I might add, it was a military operation. Corruption? These kinds of things are not made public, until the decision is made to make them public. I mean, do you remember Abu Ghraib? Here is an instance where crimes and corruption were intentionally hidden from the people in an illegitimate manner by the president. What did you have to say about that?

Nothing? Meanwhile, some simple facts that don't point to any kind of corruption whatsoever cause you to go up an arms and act like an ape. Saying brainless, untrue things that just do not make any sense at all. Tuesday was a wake up call for people like you. The president won big. The majority of american's are tired of bumling re tar ds like you. We welcome you to LEAVE this country. I will BUY you the bus ticket to mexico. Dumb people like you, and jay, and whoever else ou there wants to automatically complain based on their stupid party loyalties instead of using the brain. Goodbye.

STOP THIS NOW!!!!!!!
You've won the election be happy and start building a strong country not like this.
Please stop provoking these Persians not a good sign and no one wants war now. Enough of attacking If you want to do a surveillance do it from the satellite why send a armed drone over other countries border.
What is that US is trying to prove here. You pinch other countries like this and go for war and you give a wonderful stupid reason for all.

When you find a UAV do you first see whether it is armed and then attack. BTW do you've time for all these when an alien is in your domain what do you. You start firing to defend urself rather than debating armed or unarmed

We were within 4 miles of Iranian air space. Yes we were within the legal limits, but my gut instinct tells me that Iran has heard far too much horrific news regarding predator drones and was sending a very clear signal that the drones were a little close for comfort. I don't think they had any intention of taking it down, but that's not really the point.
We are at a very tenuous crossroads regarding our foreign relations. Iran, Syria, Russia and China have a very storng alliance. Do we really need to be pushing all the wrong hot buttons right now? I think not. But our gung ho military will look for reasons to send out those predator drones. I'm sure we don't make an announcement notifying others whether these drones are armed or unarmed. Think about that. I'm sure they expect the worst.
This whole middle east thing is too far gone for my comfort level. Ahmadinajad has a year left as leader of Iran. His actions could go one of two ways. Why are we not taking an energy advancement approach with Iran and their nuclear advancement? If, and it's a possible if, Iran is merely advancing nuclear energy endeavors, wouldn't it benefit his legacy to use our energy intelligence to advance and develop middle east societies and bring electricity and power grids to neighboring nations. Sure he's not our friend, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to end his reign as a man of power and honor to the people. And if were smart, we would see where we could collaborate with Iran on advancing their grid. For my hope is to one day see international utility bonds trading and for energy to be used as forces of great power for the good and advancement of all Nations. But that takes a strong and intelligent leader doesn't it? Instead drones are the new advancements being used as the force of power. What a shame, for global energy endeavors could be all it takes to bring some peace and hope to all nations. I would much rather end my political career as an ally of advancement and go down as a man who brought energy and investment to my nation, rather than isolation and sanctions. And we as a leader in energy knowledge and expertise, should be there seeing if there is a way to use Iran's nuclear capabilties for the greater good with their participation and willing involvement

clueless? No. No diplomacy. no war. just leave it alone and focus on OUR country. We have no business being near there at all. period. i they want nukes, then theyl have nukes. we have them. they probably feel threatened by us. if we didnt have nukes, and china did. how would you feel if china invaded us or bombed us for attempting to make them. golden rule. and if we spent half the money that is spent on missions like this one on actual ture defense spending. we wouldnt have to worry about being attacked.

November 8, 2012 at 9:04 pm |

cindy lou who

how muck chicken grease are on the white house curtains from the bammas using them to wipe their hands?

Please stop provoking these Persians not a good sign and no one wants war now. Enough of attacking If you want to do a surveillance do it from the satellite why send a armed drone over other countries border.
What is that US is trying to prove here. You pinch other countries like this and go for war and you give a wonderful stupid reason for all.

What would you suggest the US does cocostump start another war ... Havent you learned by now ... Why dnt you suit up and jump on the front line with your rifle tough guy if you want to use force against Iran ... And for all you folks that keep blaming Obama for everything slap yourselves for being stupid ... There are quite a few high ranking military personnel that make decisions other than Obama so stop using him as a scapegoat for every damn thing.

Oh, I'm sure they will live long. I bet US will even try to capture one of them and see what makes it tick and how to beat it in the future. The intelligence community will have a field day. It'll be on the training manuals.

The fact that CNN is referring to Iran as aggressive because of this shows that they are trying to manipulate opinion. Is anyone dumb enough to think that if Iran was flying drones in the Gulf of Mexico that the U.S. military wouldn't be shooting at them? Please. Armed U.S. drones are killing civiians in several countries that we know of and probably a few that we don't know of. Even the unarmed drones are spying for military purposes. If you don't want your drones shot down then keep them out of other countries back yards.

Scott, you took the words right out of my mouth. this is also as if one guy carries an unloaded gun wandering around someone else's house, and he gets shot, and files a law suit against the house owner for being aggressive.

That is evidently true for American drones as well you heartless fool(i do not want to have this comment flagged.My vocabulary for cuss words is much better than that).You kill civlians around in Afghanistan and get away with a "Sorry.My bad". You and people like you are a serious case hypocricy syndrome.

Not sure why I read the comments after this article popped up. Love the speculations over Iran and the Middle East. First things first, you keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Obama's foreign policies are his greatest assets so far, he's kept boots off of Syrian and Libyan soils, his drones are picking off the Talaban elite one by one, again without losing lives, he couldn't just "walk" out of Afghanistan after taking office, he had to do it delicately and forthright; we shouldn't have been there in the first place.

Iran would be a glowing red parking lot if they attempt any military action, and you can count on it, but we just can't repeat previous regimes actions (you did know we assassinated Iran's president in 1953 didn't you?). So the best way to handle the Middle East is exactly the way Obama is handling it; being nice and friendly, while we sneak behind their backs gathering all the info we need – instead of the Republican way of barking to the high heavens to make a "stand" and showing your hand (remember Bush giving Bin Laden a month head start to hide?).

AND ONE MORE THING: You just know that BLDR REPUBLICAN is some skinny, stoner 16 year old kid in his parents basement laughing his ass off at his pathetic posts mimicking his drunken father upstairs. So I wouldn't take "it" too seriously. I am sure he gets his just desserts when his 13 year old sister beats the crap out of him and steals his pot.

Shows your lack of knowledge of the Middle East and their history with the US. You probably had no idea that we have been in a constant struggle with the Middle East literally since the first days of our nation. Staying quiet and away did not work then and it will not work now. Foreign Policy was NOT Obama's strong suit. It has been his 2nd most pathetic failure next to the economy. You cite Libya and Syria as examples? His sanctions against Iran have not done much to deter them from seemingly proceeding to enrich uranium. Oh and look, Iran fired at one of our planes that was in international waters and we don't find out until when? AFTER THE F'ING ELECTION?! As for Libya, you are of course referring to the initial conflict. You wouldn't be foolish enough to think he handled the Sept. 11th attack well. Declared it an act of terror? No. He most certainly did not, and if he had he deliberately contridicted himself on many occassions afterwards. And seriously F.U. for even suggesting that Obama has done ANYTHING well with regards to Syria. He has done next to NOTHING. As a part Syrian I am saddened and disgusted at his lack of effort towards the situation. Over 30,000 civilians murdered by the Syrian Regime and Obama has done what? Written a stern letter? China continues to F us in the butt when it comes to trade violations and illegal subsidies. Pakistan is becoming increasingly difficult to work with. Iraq continues to have IEDs, suicide bombers, and insurgent attacks. Their government is unstable because the enemy knows we're packing up and leaving on a certain day. Why would they come out in numbers when they know they can wait a little longer since Obama has promised we'll be out. Actually, if they're smart they would realize Obama's promises are not even 50/50. I'll end with Russia, who Obama has informed he will have more control after the election.

Really? They know the American military is unpredictable. Even if they don't see any hellfires hanging off of the drone's wings, they don't know what it can do. They don't know if it is there to feed targeting information or if there is a conventional warhead mounted. What if it was a flying bomb disguised as a drone? They are playing by the rule: better to be safe than sorry.
They missed on purpose to give the drone a warning. They could have shot it down easily too. I'm just kinda surprised they didn't try to "grab" it.

November 8, 2012 at 9:00 pm |

Ray Casbah

A drone mission is to spy inside enemy territory! U.S. & Israel are testing Iran military radar capabilities. We have learned a lot since Iraq nuke intel??? C'mon, drone was NOT in international airspace!

I know your mom and dad taught you those racist values, but this isn't something you should pass on to your children. God Bless whoever you are and I hope you allow your kids to socialize with other races.

As you openly judge others you have invited them to judge you as well. So here goes...

I think you might find it even more important for you to read some books, gain some knowledge, outgrow your racism and the shed underlying hatred for others that accompanies it.

The thoughts racing through your mind that have pursuaded you to believe that you are somehow "better" than other people are false. Don't believe them. Otherwise you will likely die a very lonely death when your time comes to pass.

The world wept at 9/11. But things have changed. I don't think anyone will miss much when some U.S. city gets evaporated. It is like watching the fall of the Roman Empire. All decadence and corruption. And no one will miss Teheran either. All poulistic nutter rethoric and abuse of its own citizens. The best would be if these two nutter nations would neutralize each other totally and then two other nutters China and Russia did the same.

So our cowardly President strikes again. The Iranians fire on our drones and he wants to "negotiate". Too bad he is more motivated to persecute U.S. citizens than he is to challenge foreign adversaries.

The supposed Iranian jet was probably owned by an oil company, or somebody with a vested interest in a potential war with Iran. Either that or we were probably in their airspace. Or maybe they thought it was a toy, and they wanted to play too.

Sorry Barbara Starr... Maybe Santa should bring you a subscription to 'Jane's'. The Sukhoi SU-25 is NOT a jet fighter as your article claims. It is a ground attack aircraft similar to the USAF's A-10. It is somewhat faster than the A-10 but can carry far less payload. It's odd that this type of aircraft would be used for an interception another aircraft, or even a drone. The SU-25 is not designed to be a dogfighter nor is it even supersonic.. If Iran really wanted to show their flag, they would have deployed a couple of old F-4s leftover from the Shaw or maybe a Mig-21 or 25 or 29.

Evereyone knows we are learning about this now because the election is over. The shame is we have all come to expect this and it is not a surprise. I am weaving my prayer rug,,, it is only a matter ot time.

Don't be in such a rush to judgement. When a US ship fired a missle on an Iranian passenger plane and killed 300 Iranians, they did not attack us. So it is ok for the US to make a mistake, but not another country?

The July 3, 1988 Iran Air shootdown was an accident that resulted from mistaken radar identification of an airliner as an Iranian F-14. It happened in the middle of a combat zone (Iran-Iraq war) on a day when U.S. ships and helicopters had just fired on Iranian speedboats that were threatening them and commercial vessels in the area.

U.S. ships and aircraft had also engaged Iranian warships in an extensive, day long battle only a few months earlier. (Google "Operation Praying Mantis.")

The difference here is that the Iranian pilots knew perfectly well that they were shooting at a U.S. aircraft that posed no threat to them. (They flew loops around it, for heaven's sake.) This was no accident. It was a provocative and very foolish act on the part of the Iranians. Let's hope that Iran comes to its senses before anything else happens.

They don't know what the drone is. That's the point. They don't know if the drone's nose have a conventional warhead or not. They don't know what the drone's intention is. Especially when it take the drone only 7 minutes to enter Iranian airspace. That is why they send their planes up to warn it away or to see what it is. It's a typical military response. They don't know if the drone is armed or not. Drone in Persian gulf definitely must be military-related.
Let me tell you an interesting story. Couple years ago, a West German teenager landed his airplane in Moscow without getting stopped. The result was increased paranoia in Soviet Air Defense system. They even shot missiles toward weather balloons. Now Iran is in the same if not more dangerous situation with US and Israel. It's little wonder their armed forces will be on high alert for something unknown especially of military origin.

November 8, 2012 at 8:51 pm |

Marc Biron

Definately not first on CNN. I heard about this on my Android RSS feed twenty minutes before any major news outlet ran the story. CNN....you try so hard.

CNN has turned from a real news organization to a tabloid news station. I travel a lot in Asia, and when I go to CNN they are always showing dull talking heads...entertainment, self-advertising...just garbage. Al-jazeera, on the other hand is a superior news station...they cover real news around the world. My second choice is BBC. CNN is just trying to copy another garbage "news" network..Fox news. What happened, CNN? You don't have any reporters?

They can read your newspaper from space, while you're sitting on your patio. Iran is a perfect place to "read" from International waters. If they weren't watching them, they would be amiss. If they smoke one of our drones in those waters we'll smoke one of their jets... no problem. Don't underestimate Obama.

Well, Well, what a surprise! The administration is hiding events from the american people.
That is because they know how stupid most americans truly are.
As the old saying goes, YOU AIIN"'T SEEN NOTHING YET.

The Iranians are freaking out because they are just a hair away from destruction. This happened one other time and they were shooting their own aircraft in a freak out frenzy. What they don't know is that when it happens, it will be too late when they find out. Stupid muslims...

can you blame the iranian military... what the Iranians were up too???? we are a bit arrogant as a nation to believe we can fly a Predator drone 16 miles off the coast of Iran and expect no repercussions. what if they flew an unmanned predator drone 16 miles off the coast of NYC???

The LOL "officials" quoted in this story are hilarious, acting all innocent. "Hey guys, our little harmless SPY DRONE was trolling the coast off of Iran and I can't believe they shot at us!!! We weren't over the line!" Yeah bu your cameras were. You can't tell me the sensors on that thing can't see 12 miles in, give me a break. Sorry, as an American citizen, we are not innocent here and need to own up to it, no special exceptions. Oh and those of you joking about Obama apologizing, I'm sure you appreciated the "soft" apology that was delivered to Osama Bin Laden.

How dare you make such a remark about OBL's demise? You WANT to live there, in that type of repressed society? Go right ahead, be our guest, but shut your cake hole with cement before you criticize the democracy which allows morons like you to sound off- all the while just sounding what you are: stupid beyond belief.

Yes! How dare I WHAT? Sounds like you just got mad about a bunch of stuff I didn't even say.

November 8, 2012 at 8:26 pm |

Darren

From a Canadian perspective...Only a few weeks ago a Russian Attack sub ( much more deadly then an Iranian SU-35) was discovered and tracked playing hide and seek and practicing its mission of covertly sneaking up on American vessels not 300 miles from the US east cost and only miles from the border of international waters. It was stalking a us carrier group until it was discovered at which point it turned back towards Europe and left/

The response from Obama was to do nothing more then to monitor and track it and to let them know they had been discovered.

To those who say that Obama would have shot down an Iranian drone flying on the edge of Americas airspace...I highly doubt it. Your president although not the best for my country is quite intelligent and is doing a very good job of not dragging your country down the tubes even further then it it already is by engaging in another needless costly war.

As for the russian sub....Seems many of you did not even know it was there.

Firstly, Washington has habitually lied so much over the past 12 years that I wouldn't believe anything they say whether it comes from Washington or the Pentagon. Secondly, lets just assume this incident happened: The US has Iran completely surrounded, and we know full well that if China had the US surrounded in the same way the US would be going to war. And you call Iran provocative? Iranian fighters fire a few warning shots at a US drone and Washington gets its pants all in a twist? Give me a break. The US is just itching for an excuse to start a war with Iran and will use any propaganda it can to justify it. If Americans don't know it, the rest of the world bloody well knows it.

A Russian sub was tracked off the east coast within the past month....close but in international waters. Should we have fired on it because we know it was eavesdropping? I don't think so! This cat and mouse game with Iran is not new and was handled just fine in my estimation. However, they take a chance each time that we won't rain hell on them and one day may go too far.

November 8, 2012 at 8:24 pm |

eskertzen

I think Americans are handicapped. I mean, you voted Obama back into office... Holy hell... You're constantly meddling in the affairs of other nations and regions and you get you panties all in a twist when Iran, (who are completely surrounded by US client states with US bases and weapons pointed at them, who are suffering under US economic warfare against their country), fires a few warning shots at one of your drones? You should be happy that as you continue to provoke Iran that this is all that's happened.

Had we shut down one their aircraft, I'm positive they wouldn't be planning on doing it again. But because we are so predictable, Obama usually responds with a firm threat of an official apology. Let's face it, the longer we wait, the higher the risks of a nuclear confrontation in the near horizon.

Did he apologize to Osama Bin Laden? YEAH... he sure did with an automatic rifle fire in his face. Too bad your fearless leader George W. Bush was not even able to find him hiding in his "ally" country.

Don't worry every time some Iranian wants to fire a couple of AK47 rounds from his soviet era jet, there's no need to go to war just yet. Remember that Obama is the one who successfully oversaw the the killing of Osama Bin Laden. There are times when you shouldn't fly off the handle and act irrationally. Obama knows when to lay the pipe. Just ask Michelle.

You wimps sound like apologetic peter-puffers. The USA follows maritime and international air-traffic laws.

Stop apologizing and stand up when you see someone breaking the law? If you saw a ra pe in progress, you are the type to wonder what the victim did to warrant the attack while you walk away.

PA THET IC!

November 8, 2012 at 8:19 pm |

Mr. Clarity

No Dan. We wouldn't. We would provide them a military escort to a safe landing place. We hide from news like this.. Or it is hidden from us. Remeber 9-11-2012. The sheep has spoken. BAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...... Four more years of this. I am weaving m y prayer cloth.

Why didn't you report this BEFORE the election????? Since it happened BEFORE the election????? Maybe because you work for the Democratic Party???? Americans are NOT STUPID!!!!!!!! We know what you are about CNN. We also know what FOX is about. You, corrupt, paid for, news media outlets are a DISCRACE TO AMERICA!!!!!!!!

If it takes more than a week to "anaylize" things.............we are screwed. Get with the program buddy.............a nuclear strike will happen in seconds. Your really think this kind of incident takes this long to figure out? THEY HID THIS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTIONS. Get real and stop hiding behind things.

And this would of changed the election how? Take a chill pill. This is barely important news at all....you obviously have never been in the military and don't realize how often other countries do dumb stuff to us

Regarding the miscreants who overan our embassy & held our staff hostage in 1979, kill 'em all (regime) & let Allah sort 'em out. The Iranians have American blood on their hands many times over & we've not responded in kind. This war is late out of the gates.

No, but the Iranian military was supplying explosively shaped penetrators for IED's that killed and maimed hundreds of US servicemen and women in Iraq. They also supply Hezbollah with money and arms for their terrorist war against Israel. And long before the Airbus incident, they Iranians violated international law and our soil by invading the US embassy and holding the staff hostage for 444 days. Not to mention (and I'm sure you forget this too), the armed Iranian speedboats that have been threatening civilian shipping in the Straits of Hormuz for decades. So really, not having a lot of sympathy here for the Iranian government or military. The Iranian people however, I think are in a bad spot and it is regrettable that they have such an evil dictator for a leader. Hopefully when Israel attacks your nation in the next few weeks and destroys your nuclear weapons program, there aren't too many civilians in the way.

November 8, 2012 at 8:14 pm |

sj8970

i am not iranian – i am american. the US should not have been iraq in the first place, but though iran may have supplied shi'ite militias there, it was the SUNNI insurgency (supported by our "ally" saudi arabia, who also produced the vast majority of the 9/11 hijackers not to mention bin laden – how many were iranian?) that caused most of the violence there. as for israel, quite aside from the fact that israel is not america's problem and that israeli policies have also been responsible for the violence there, once again the palestinians are sunni and most of their funding comes from sunni countries, not iran.

November 8, 2012 at 8:42 pm |

IronMike

Are people really indignant over Iranians firing at a DRONE when it was spying? Seriously?

And Iranians... you might as well have thrown a few stones at the drone.

This news was NOT first on CNN. About two hours ago, I checked foxnews and that news was on their page. Right away, I check BOTH cnn US and cnn international, both of which did not have that news on their respective page.

I think he's referring to when russia shot down the flight from s. korea that had accidently flew over its border.

November 8, 2012 at 8:27 pm |

sj8970

actually i am referring to when the US navy shot down an iranian commercial airliner in the 1980's. i don't know what country you think i am from, but i am american. i just don't see what is such a big deal about iran being our enemy. we have had enemies before, even nuclear-armed ones (USSR, north korea, china, an unstable (though nominally an ally) pakistan). iran CAN be contained. there is no need for war.

November 8, 2012 at 8:38 pm |

Tom

Look at the google maps for the Persian Gulf.. Bushehr Nuclear power plant is right there east of Kuwait. Yeah fly spy drones near one of our reactors and see our response, this was aggression by the Americans if anyone.. Sixteen miles is point blank range in modern times.

We as Latino,Black and White Americans if something takes place with Iran & Israel I will leave it up to them because we have giving up our live in the Iraq war & Afganistan where Israel did not had a big percentage of their people participating in that war ladies & gentlemens

this is easy, tomorrow send up a drone with missles and take out those planes, come on Obama, I wonder why the world/China thinks they can walk all over us. This is not war mongering, it is called self defense. Embarass the F out of them when 2 of their pilots are shot out of the sky by a remote controlled toy with air to air missiles while they shoot their peas at it.

Iran had a right to shoot at that drone. It was in their airspace and posed a threat to their national security. America would have reacted the same way. Iran should know this however: For every drone they shoot down, there are 100 they never even notice.

According to the United States, the drone was in International Air Space.
Of course, the United States is the same government using drones to spy on United States citizens and cameras to shake down drivers.
I'm sure that the United States would never lie about the Iran drone thingy though.

@Bull311,do you have problems interpeting the story,the drone was 16 miles offshore of Iran in international waters which starts at 12 miles off their coast,that leaves 4 miles to play,I see you're not good in math are yah!!

I would say Bull311 is right. 1) 16 miles sure in international waters. Do you know how fast drones can go? This type of drone at most can go up to 135 mph. Divide 16 miles by 135 mph. That means the drone can enter Iranian airspace in 0.11 hours. I'll leave it to you guys to figure out how many minute that is. That's not enough time to scramble a jet 2) Drone = military. If it were a commercial airliner, then Iran would be overreacting. But Iran doesn't know what the drone can do. So they play it safe and send two fighters up to take a look...especially if it was around a high security area. We would do the same too. Especially when we don't know, we assume the worse.

We need to be firing on the drones that fly our coasts and the drones that local police are beginning to use. Remember...the only good drone is a dead drone!
No rifle that can shoot over 50 yards? Then go take out the red light cameras.

@Fish,if you have problems posting here go the hell home to Iran where nuts like you get along!!And remember years ago foriegn subs were sitting off of Miami Beach,big deal..We the big boys on the block,so there!!

November 8, 2012 at 8:13 pm |

EdwardTr

Wow, this is such a none story, the Iranian pilots watched Top Gun one too many times. They were showing off against a drone and clearly did not intend to shoot it down, but I guarantee they would not do that against a manned fighter. The only real question worth asking is how high up the chain of command this was authorized or is this simply to gung-ho morons.

Whose to say we won't do the same if a foreign drone wandered around our vicinity? If a Chinese drone was 12 nautical miles off of New London, Kings Bay, Bangor, or Norfolk, we would send fighters up too. So do we have any right to protest? Our fighters would have fired a warning shot or loop around it.

We don't know that. We weren't always there. If the drone continues to be there, I guarantee we will fire a shot to get its attention to leave. Even in international waters, we still will do that. Remember back in the Cold War how those Soviet Trawlers will dog US carriers in international waters? Often it takes a shot across the bow from the destroyer to tell the trawler to leave. Soviets might log a complaint about international bullying but safety and security are always the priority. No, we don't always hold our fire. And it also depends where the drone is flying. If it is a highly sensitive area, then the drone is history.

November 8, 2012 at 8:12 pm |

Chris Maurice

If an Iranian drone came within the same distance around U.S. waters, what would the U.S. do?

Let me guess, I bet all you chicken hawk would love nothing more than to start another war and send your neighbors son and daughter to fight while you hide out in the basement and complain about how much it cost.

Not a "nasty" letter, he will send a heartfelt appology, for invading their "waters"(international waters), and claim that the attack was provoked by a blogger somewhere in the U.S. making "mean spirited" comments about the prophet...According to him, America can do nothing right...

I don't care who's fault it was, it was buried and lied about. Who's in charge Obama! So if it was a republican then why didn't the administration pounce on it? Don't be a sheep, cover up is under way and its the current administrations responsibility to own it.

November 8, 2012 at 8:07 pm |

Tptlead

Hillary's a Republican?

November 8, 2012 at 8:09 pm |

Emma in Baltimore

It was just as beneficial to Romney that this information was not reported the day before elections: why would it be in America's better interest to elect a business man with no foreign policy experience in the middle to aggressive Iranian actions? Obama's much better suited to handle these events than Romney.

Your right, Obama is better suited to handle this situation. He has apologizing down to a science...

November 8, 2012 at 8:23 pm |

realPerson

Look at the google maps for the gulf.. Bushehr Nuclear power plant is right there east of Kuwait. Yeah fly spy drones near one of our reactors and see our response, this was aggression by the Americans if anyone.. Sixteen miles is point blank range in modern times.

Much as I abhorr the Iranian government, I agree with you. We must ground our drones and stop unilateral surveillance and bombings. My only regret is that they didn't hit it. Drones have pretty much destroyed the anti-war movement here, as evidenced by Obama ordering more airstrikes in year one than Bush did in all 8, and the anti-war crowd gladly voted for him again. We can't keep bombing whomever we don't like with no accountability, or at least we shouldn't.

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CNN's Security Clearance examines national and global security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as the economic, military, political and diplomatic effects of it around the globe, with contributions from CNN's national security team in Washington and CNN journalists around the world.